Ngoc Vo – The Messenger

There will be a change in the route for this year’s 60th annual Troy University Homecoming Appreciation Day Parade due to road construction on parts of Three Notch Street.

According to Dan Smith, chair of homecoming parade, the lineup will start on Elm Street, with the route going through the town square, left turn at Three Notch Street. The parade will end on Madison Street.

The Pike County Chamber of Commerce is hosting the parade on Saturday, Oct. 11 with the homecoming theme of “Getting Back to Our Roots: We Are One.”

The lineup will begin at 8 a.m., and the parade starts at 10. It will last around one hour, Smith said.

Lauren Smith, vice president of the Chamber, said participants will include local schools’ marching bands and Troy University’s Sound of the South.

Smith said the chamber has been planning the event for two months. It is the largest parade every year in Troy with the average number of entries every year between 85 and 100. This year there will be 94 entries in the parade.

“There will be 94 units that we have in the parade,” Smith said. “We’re very excited about the number of units in the parade and the variety, and also the change in direction.”

He said the city of Troy, Troy University SGA and Alumni Association have provided a great deal of assistance in preparation for the parade.

Barbara Patterson, Troy University director of student involvement and leadership, said the school is looking forward to the event

“I am very grateful to the Pike County Chamber of Commerce and the homecoming committee for all the hard work they do,” Patterson said.

“I am excited to see the products of our students’ efforts on the floats that they always take great interest and pride in. We hope every community member will come out and join us.

“The support of the community over the past years has been absolutely wonderful. It’s amazing to see how many people come out for the homecoming parade.”

The homecoming parade is an annual event, and Dan Smith said with the variety of entries the parade would be a fun event for everyone.

“Of course, our local bands will be present,” Dan Smith said. “We will have horses, motorcycles, Shriners, lots of beauty queens from Troy and Pike County and other counties and area. It should be a lot of fun to see.”